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The sun sank lower and lower； yet there was no sign of
returning SPAHIS。 At last the valley was submerged in
shadow Tarzan was too proud to go back to camp until he had
given the detachment ample time to return to the valley；
which he thought was to have been their rendezvous。
With the closing in of night he felt safer from attack； for
he was at home in the dark。 He knew that none might approach
him so cautiously as to elude those alert and sensitive
ears of his； then there were his eyes； too； for he could
see well at night； and his nose； if they came toward him
from up…wind； would apprise him of the approach of an enemy
while they were still a great way off。
So he felt that he was in little danger； and thus lulled
to a sense of security he fell asleep； with his back against
the tree。
He must have slept for several hours； for when he was
suddenly awakened by the frightened snorting and plunging
of his horse the moon was shining full upon the little valley；
and there； not ten paces before him； stood the grim cause of
the terror of his mount。
Superb； majestic； his graceful tail extended and quivering；
and his two eyes of fire riveted full upon his prey； stood
Numa EL ADREA； the black lion。 A little thrill of joy
tingled through Tarzan's nerves。 It was like meeting an old
friend after years of separation。 For a moment he sat rigid to
enjoy the magnificent spectacle of this lord of the wilderness。
But now Numa was crouching for the spring。 Very slowly
Tarzan raised his gun to his shoulder。 He had never killed a
large animal with a gun in all his lifeheretofore he had
depended upon his spear； his poisoned arrows； his rope； his
knife； or his bare hands。 Instinctively he wished that he had
his arrows and his knifehe would have felt surer with them。
Numa was lying quite flat upon the ground now； presenting
only his head。 Tarzan would have preferred to fire a little
from one side； for he knew what terrific damage the lion
could do if he lived two minutes； or even a minute after he
was hit。 The horse stood trembling in terror at Tarzan's back。
The ape…man took a cautious step to one sideNuma but followed
him with his eyes。 Another step he took； and then another。
Numa had not moved。 Now he could aim at a point between
the eye and the ear。
His finger tightened upon the trigger； and as he fired
Numa sprang。 At the same instant the terrified horse
made a last frantic effort to escapethe tether parted；
and he went careening down the canon toward the desert。
No ordinary man could have escaped those frightful claws
when Numa sprang from so short a distance； but Tarzan was
no ordinary man。 From earliest childhood his muscles had
been trained by the fierce exigencies of his existence to act
with the rapidity of thought。 As quick as was EL ADREA；
Tarzan of the Apes was quicker； and so the great beast
crashed against a tree where he had expected to feel the soft
flesh of man； while Tarzan； a couple of paces to the right；
pumped another bullet into him that brought him clawing
and roaring to his side。
Twice more Tarzan fired in quick succession； and then
EL ADREA lay still and roared no more。 It was no longer
Monsieur Jean Tarzan； it was Tarzan of the Apes that put a
savage foot upon the body of his savage kill； and； raising
his face to the full moon； lifted his mighty voice in the weird
and terrible challenge of his kinda bull ape had made his kill。
And the wild things in the wild mountains stopped in their
hunting； and trembled at this new and awful voice；
while down in the desert the children of the wilderness came
out of their goatskin tents and looked toward the mountains；
wondering what new and savage scourge had come to devastate
their flocks。
A half mile from the valley in which Tarzan stood； a score
of white…robed figures； bearing long； wicked…looking guns；
halted at the sound； and looked at one another with
questioning eyes。 But presently； as it was not repeated；
they took up their silent； stealthy way toward the valley。
Tarzan was now confident that Gernois had no intention
of returning for him； but he could not fathom the object
that had prompted the officer to desert him； yet leave him
free to return to camp。 His horse gone； he decided that it
would be foolish to remain longer in the mountains； so he
set out toward the desert。
He had scarcely entered the confines of the canon when
the first of the white…robed figures emerged into the valley
upon the opposite side。 For a moment they scanned the little
depression from behind sheltering bowlders； but when they
had satisfied themselves that it was empty they advanced
across it。 Beneath the tree at one side they came upon the
body of EL ADREA。 With muttered exclamations they crowded
about it。 Then； a moment later； they hurried down the canon
which Tarzan was threading a brief distance in advance of them。
They moved cautiously and in silence； taking advantage of shelter；
as men do who are stalking man。
Chapter 10
Through the Valley of the Shadow
As Tarzan walked down the wild canon beneath the brilliant
African moon the call of the jungle was strong upon him。
The solitude and the savage freedom filled his heart with
life and buoyancy。 Again he was Tarzan of the Apesevery
sense alert against the chance of surprise by some jungle
enemyyet treading lightly and with head erect； in proud
consciousness of his might。
The nocturnal sounds of the mountains were new to him；
yet they fell upon his ears like the soft voice of a half…
forgotten love。 Many he intuitively sensedah； there was one
that was familiar indeed； the distant coughing of Sheeta； the
leopard； but there was a strange note in the final wail which
made him doubt。 It was a panther he heard。
Presently a new sounda soft； stealthy soundobtruded
itself among the others。 No human ears other than the ape…
man's would have detected it。 At first he did not translate it；
but finally he realized that it came from the bare feet of a
number of human beings。 They were behind him； and they
were coming toward him quietly。 He was being stalked。
In a flash he knew why he had been left in that little
valley by Gernois； but there had been a hitch in the
arrangementsthe men had come too late。 Closer and closer came
the footsteps。 Tarzan halted and faced them； his rifle ready in
his hand。 Now he caught a fleeting glimpse of a white burnoose。
He called aloud in French； asking what they would of him。
His reply was the flash of a long gun； and with the sound of
the shot Tarzan of the Apes plunged forward upon his face。
The Arabs did not rush out immediately； instead； they
waited to be sure that their victim did not rise。 Then they
came rapidly from their concealment； and bent over him。
It was soon apparent that he was not dead。 One of the men put
the muzzle of his gun to the back